How our sports clinic can aid with your peak performance at the marathon
Why do you a ultra-marathon runners need help from a Sports therapist?
To break it down working with a Sports Therapist will give you the best tools to succeed in the sport and each individual race. And here are a few reasons why.
Because of the intense and repetitive nature of the sport, ultra-runners can often experience varying degrees of:
Physical ailments, such as muscle strains and blisters.
Injuries, particularly in the lower limbs, such as shin splints, stress fractures, IT band syndrome (pain on the outside of the knee), tendinopathies, plantar fasciitis, and more.
Fatigue, dehydration, and other nutrition-related challenges.
Physical pain and mental fatigue.
Addressing physical ailments
Muscle strains (calves, hamstrings, quads, etc.) due to overtrained or poorly-conditioned muscles are quite common for long-distance runners. But we also see people experience lower-back pain, runner’s knee (pain around the front and outside of the knee), foot issues, and blisters.
When you come and see us at the clinic, not only do we treat the issue at hand with adjustments or massage therapy where necessary. But we also give you plenty of advice on how to alleviate the issue and facilitate recovery. By doing a full assessment and analysing your running gait, we can address the key drivers that caused any issues you might be experiencing and stop them from happening in the future.
Our aim is to get you running your next race – we’re on the same page as you! And while we understand that your pain threshold levels may be high, we also don’t want smaller ailments to unnecessarily turn into long-term injuries that might cut your running career short or even impact other activities in your daily life.
For example, we can give you advice on footwear or specific proprioception exercises to help you optimise your performance and stop similar issues from happening again. So if you’re experiencing any types of niggles, discomfort, or pain during or after a race (of any kind), come and see us!
Dealing with and recovering from injuries
We can’t stress enough how important it is for any ultra-runners to come and see us in case you injure yourself. At the clinic, we are highly experienced at managing injury profiles that are specific to this category of athletes and runners. And we understand how these differ from those of non-runners or patients who don’t practise the sport.
We will help you heal from your injury as soon as possible by creating a clear plan for rehabilitation and recovery. And if you come and see us regularly during your recovery, we will also help to keep you accountable to yourself and on track with your recovery.
Our immediate goal is to manage and alleviate your injury. But in the long term, we want to make sure you fully heal with no implications and complications, so we guide you and advise you with that aim in mind. Thanks to our holistic approach, we also help you understand and address the key driver (or drivers) that lead to your specific injury so you can run more confidently and safe in the knowledge that it won’t happen again.
We also recommend that cross-training (using other training modalities, like getting on a bike, swimming, and/or getting in the gym) can be used to get a workout in. But it’s also helpful to offload tired legs. Because running is the worst thing you can do when you have a running injury! Cross-training is a great way to reduce the risk of aggravating an existing injury and preventing future ones while still being able to train.
Preparing for the Marathon – mentally and physically
As you’re probably already aware if you’re practising the sport or looking into it, other specific factors come into play when it comes to endurance running. These include:
Hydration. Some Ultra marathons take place in extreme weather conditions, increasing the risk of dehydration, heat exhaustion, or heatstroke.
Nutrition. These events often come with the requirement to fuel yourself as you run. For this reason, they are considered to be ‘eating’ competitions as much as they are running races.
Clothing and equipment. In certain events, you may be required to run while carrying specific equipment (including a First Aid kit, a torch, a hat, at least 1 litre of water, etc.). You may also need to wear moisture-wicking fabric and compression gear, think about ventilation and breathability as well as layering options and protective and reflective elements, depending on where and how long your run is.
Overtraining and Cross training. Excessive training with inadequate rest can lead to chronic fatigue, decreased performance, and increased susceptibility to illness or injury.
Mental and psychological preparation with the mindset of ‘completing the race at all costs’.
Ultra-marathon runner? Come and see us!Sports massages offer numerous benefits, including but not limited to:
Enhanced muscle recovery
Improved flexibility and range of motion
Increased blood circulation
Reduced stress and anxiety
Greater body awareness
These benefits contribute not only to better physical health but also to improved overall well-being.
If you are experiencing any niggles, pain, or discomfort, or are being held back by an injury, come and see us. We can help you optimise your running and stay injury-free for longer.
Still unsure? Don't just take our word for it. Read through the testimonials from our satisfied clients. Many came to us with the same concerns and left feeling relieved, relaxed, and ready to book their next session. Let their experiences assure you of the benefits and comfort of our sports massage services.
